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Abstract:

A method of registering a multi mode communications device for service
can include registering a multi-mode communications device by receiving
and transmitting registration information over separate communications
networks.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein registering comprises: receiving
registration information for the multi mode communications device, at the
multi mode communications device over a first communications network; and
transmitting the registration information for the multi mode
communications device from the multi mode communications device over a
second communications network responsive to receiving the registration
information.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the first communications network
comprises a packet-switched network using a request response protocol and
the second communications network comprises one of a public switched
telephone network communications network, a global system for
telecommunications communications network, and a code division multiple
access communications network.

4. A method according to claim 2 further comprising: receiving a secure
request for registration from the multi mode communications device over a
packet-switched network including a multi mode communications device
identifier; providing an at least pseudo-random identifier responsive to
the multi mode communications device identifier; associating the at least
pseudo-random identifier with multi mode communications device
identifier; transmitting a secure response to the multi mode
communications device, responsive to the secure request, including the
registration information comprising the at least pseudo-random identifier
and including a telephone number; receiving a telephone call from the
multi mode communications device, over the second communications network,
the telephone call directed to a registration interactive voice response
server associated with the telephone number; receiving the registration
information comprising the at least pseudo-random identifier and
receiving a multi mode communications device number associated with the
multi mode communications device at the registration interactive voice
response server; and associating the multi mode communications device
number with the at least pseudo-random identifier with the multi mode
communications device identifier.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the secure request comprises a
first secure request and the secure response comprises a first secure
response, the method further comprising: receiving a second secure
request for registration from the multi mode communications device over
the packet-switched network including the registration information
comprising the at least pseudo-random identifier; determining the multi
mode communications device number associated with the at least
pseudo-random identifier received via the second secure request to
provide an authenticated multi mode communications device number;
transmitting a secure request for a working telephone number service
configuration of the authenticated multi mode communications device
number to a customer information database; receiving a secure response to
the secure request for the working telephone number service configuration
including the multi mode communications device service configuration from
the customer information database; transmitting a secure request for a
dial plan for the authenticated multi mode communications device number
to a dial plan database; receiving a secure response to the secure
request for the dial plan for the authenticated multi mode communications
device number from the dial plan database including the dial plan for the
multi mode communications device; transmitting a second secure response,
responsive to the second secure request for registration, to the multi
mode communications device including the authenticated multi mode
communications device number, the multi mode communications device
service configuration, and the dial plan for the multi mode
communications device; receiving the authenticated multi mode
communications device number, the multi mode communications device
service configuration, and the dial plan for the multi mode
communications device at the multi mode communications device; and
storing the authenticated multi mode communications device number, the
multi mode communications device service configuration, and the dial plan
for the multi mode communications device in the multi mode communications
device.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method is computer
implemented.

7. An electronic communications device comprising: a multi mode
communications device that registers for service by receiving and
transmitting registration information over separate communications
networks.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the multi mode communications
device further receives registration information over a first
communications network and transmits the registration information for the
multi mode communications device from the multi mode communications
device over a second communications network responsive to receiving the
registration information.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the first communications network
comprises a packet-switched network using a hypertext transfer protocol
and the second communications network comprises one of a public switched
telephone network communications network, a global system for
telecommunications communications network, and a code division multiple
access communications network.

10. A device according to claim 7 wherein the multi mode communications
device further transmits a secure request for registration from the multi
mode communications device over a packet-switched network including a
multi mode communications device identifier.

12. A device according to claim 10 wherein the multi mode communications
device further receives a secure response, responsive to the secure
request, including the registration information comprising an at least
pseudo-random identifier and including a telephone number.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the multi mode communications
device further places a telephone call from the multi mode communications
device, over the second communications network, the telephone call
directed to a registration interactive voice response server associated
with the telephone number; and wherein the multi mode communications
device further transmits the registration information comprising the at
least pseudo-random identifier and a multi mode communications device
number associated with the multi mode communications device to the
registration interactive voice response server via dual-tone
multi-frequency.

14. A system for registering a multi mode communications device for
service, the system comprising: a registration server device that
registers a multi mode communications device for service by receiving
registration information from and transmitting registration information
to the multi mode communications device over separate communications
networks.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the registration server device
further transmits registration information to the multi mode
communications device over a first communications network and receives
the registration information from the multi mode communications device
over a second communications network responsive to receiving the
registration information from the system.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the first communications
network comprises a packet-switched network using a hypertext transfer
protocol and the second communications network comprises one of a public
switched telephone network communications network, a global system for
telecommunications communications network, and a code division multiple
access communications network.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the registration server device
further receives a secure request for registration from the multi mode
communications device over a packet-switched network including a multi
mode communications device identifier and provides an at least
pseudo-random identifier responsive to the multi mode communications
device identifier; wherein the registration server device further
associates the at least pseudo-random identifier with multi mode
communications device identifier and transmits a secure response to the
multi mode communications device, responsive to the secure request,
including the registration information comprising the at least
pseudo-random identifier and including a telephone number; wherein the
registration server device further receives a telephone call from the
multi mode communications device, over the second communications network,
the telephone call directed to a registration interactive voice response
server associated with the telephone number, receives the registration
information comprising the at least pseudo-random identifier, and
receives a multi mode communications device number associated with the
multi mode communications device at the registration interactive voice
response server; and wherein the registration server device further
associates the multi mode communications device number with the at least
pseudo-random identifier and with the multi mode communications device
identifier.

Description:

STATEMENT OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application is a continuation application of and claims
priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/330,184, filed Dec. 8, 2008,
the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The following relates to the field of communications in general. It
is known to deploy dual mode voice over internet protocol (VOIP)
telephones. These VOIP telephones may be configured to use either, for
example, an Internet connection or a telephone network to initiate and
receive calls. For example, a conventional VOIP telephone may be
configured so that the user can initiate a call using a local WiFi
"hotspot" that is connected to the Internet, to take advantage of lower
cost connectivity and thereby reduce expensive roaming charges.
Alternatively, the VOIP telephone may be used to initiate/receive calls
via the Public Switched Telephone Network, such as when the user is at
home. Still further, the user may initiate/receive calls using a third
network such as a GSM or CDMA type network if the VOIP telephone is so
configured.

SUMMARY

[0003] It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce
a selection of concepts in a simplified form, the concepts being further
described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended
to identify key features or essential features of this disclosure, nor is
it intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0004] Embodiments can provide methods, devices, systems, and computer
program products for registration of multi mode communications devices.
In some embodiments, a method of registering a multi mode communications
device for service can be provided by registering a multi mode
communications device by receiving and transmitting registration
information over separate communications networks.

[0005] In some embodiments, a multi mode telephone can be registered for
service by utilizing separate communication networks, such as a PSTN and
the Internet. For example, in some embodiments, during registration the
multi mode telephone can receive registration information from a
registration server over a first communications network (such as the
Internet) and transmit registration information to the server over a
second communications network (such as a PSTN, GSN, or CDMA network).

[0006] Still further, the utilizing different communications networks in
the registration process can improve the security of the registration
process thereby reducing the likelihood that unauthorized telephones can
be registered or that unauthorized telephone can "spoof" the registration
system. For example, in some embodiments, a somewhat unique identifier
(such as MAC address of multi mode telephone) can be transmitted to the
registration server, which in turn generates a number which is
sufficiently random to provide adequate security for the registration
process. Then, the registration server transmits the generated number
back to the multi mode telephone along with a telephone number which the
multi mode telephone calls as a second part of the registration process.

[0007] The multi mode telephone places the call to the number provided by
the registration server using the PSTN, and transmits the number
generated by the registration server during the first part of the
registration process. The registration server can then use the number
provided by the multi mode telephone during the call to authenticate the
second part of the registration request, which may as stated above,
further improve the authentication desired for the registration process
as the registration process may be split across two networks, and more
particularly, utilizes at least one network which is relatively more
secure than the Internet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a multi-mode communications
device at a customer location having access to a public internet
connection as well as a public switched telephone network, both of which
can access a registration system in some embodiments.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates multi-mode
communications devices according to some embodiments.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram that illustrates operations of multi-mode
communications devices and related servers during a registration process
in some embodiments.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates operations of multi-mode
communications devices and related servers during a registration process
in some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference to
the accompanying drawings. The embodiments may, however, be in many
different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments
set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope
of the embodiments to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to
like elements throughout.

[0013] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the
embodiment. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms
"comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify
the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or
more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,
and/or groups thereof.

[0014] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being
"connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected
or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present.
In contrast, if an element is referred to as being "directly connected"
or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening
elements present.

[0015] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.
may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should
not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish
one element from another. Thus, a first element could be termed a second
element without departing from the teachings of the present embodiments.

[0016] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this embodiments
belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined
in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning
that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art
and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless
expressly so defined herein.

[0017] As will further be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the
present embodiments may be methods, systems, and/or computer program
products. Accordingly, embodiments may be entirely hardware, entirely
software or an a combination of software and hardware aspects.
Furthermore, embodiments may take the form of a computer program product
on a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program code
embodied in the medium. Any suitable computer readable medium may be
utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, or
magnetic storage devices.

[0018] Specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable
medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one
or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a random access memory
(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only
memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, and a portable compact
disc read-only memory (CD-ROM).

[0019] Embodiments also described using flowchart illustrations and block
diagrams. It will be understood that each block (of the flowcharts and
block diagrams), and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by
computer program instructions. These program instructions may be provided
to a processor circuit, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller or
other processor, such that the instructions which execute on the
processor(s) create means for implementing the functions specified in the
block or blocks. The computer program instructions may be executed by the
processor(s) to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by
the processor(s) to produce a computer implemented process such that the
instructions which execute on the processor(s) provide steps for
implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks.

[0020] Accordingly, the blocks support combinations of means for
performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing
the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the
specified functions. It will also be understood that each block, and
combinations of blocks, can be implemented by special purpose
hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or
combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0021] It should also be noted that in some alternate implementations, the
functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in
the flowcharts. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact
be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be
executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts
involved.

[0022] Computer program code or "code" for carrying out operations in
embodiments may be written in an object oriented programming language
such as JAVA®, Smalltalk or C++, JavaScript, Visual Basic, TSQL,
Peri, or in various other programming languages. Software embodiments do
not depend on implementation with a particular programming language.
Portions of the code may execute entirely on one or more systems utilized
by an intermediary server.

[0023] The code may execute entirely on one or more servers, or it may
execute partly on a server and partly on a client within a client device
or as a proxy server at an intermediate point in a communications
network. In the latter scenario, the client device may be connected to a
server over a LAN or a WAN (e.g., an intranet), or the connection may be
made through the Internet (e.g., via an Internet Service Provider). It is
understood that the present embodiments are not TCP/IP-specific or
Internet-specific. Exemplary embodiments may be implemented using various
protocols over various types of computer networks.

[0024] It is understood that each block of the illustrations, and
combinations of blocks in the illustrations can be implemented by
computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be
provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a
machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of
the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create
means for implementing the functions specified in the block and/or
flowchart block or blocks.

[0025] These computer program instructions may be stored in a
computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable
data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that
the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an
article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the
function specified in the block diagrams and/or flowchart block or
blocks.

[0026] The computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or
other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of
operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable
apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the
instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable
apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the
block diagrams and/or flowchart block or blocks.

[0027] Embodiments can operate in a logically separated (or physically
separated) client side/server side-computing environment. The
client/server environment is a computational architecture that involves a
client process (i.e., a client) requesting service from a server process
(i.e., a server). In general, the client/server environment maintains a
distinction between processes, although client and server processes may
operate on different machines or on the same machine. Accordingly, the
client and server sides of the client/server environment can be referred
to as being logically separated.

[0028] Usually, when client and server processes operate on separate
devices, each device can be customized for the needs of the respective
process. For example, a server process can "run on" a system having large
amounts of memory and disk space, whereas the client process often "runs
on" a system having a graphic user interface provided by high-end video
cards and large-screen displays.

[0029] In some embodiments, a client can be a program, such as a web
browser, that requests information, such as web pages, from a server
under the control of a user. In other embodiments, a client can be in the
form of embedded software which may operate substantially without any
input from the user other than, for example, powering the device on.
Examples of clients can include browsers such as Netscape Navigator®
(America Online, Inc., Dulles, Va.) and Internet Explorer® (Microsoft
Corporation, Redmond, Wash.). Browsers typically provide a graphical user
interface for retrieving and viewing web pages, web portals,
applications, and other resources served by Web servers.

[0030] The server can be a program that responds to the requests from the
client. Some examples of servers are International Business Machines
Corporation's family of Lotus Domino® servers, the Apache server and
Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS) (Microsoft Corporation,
Redmond, Wash.). The clients and servers can communicate using a standard
communications mode, such as Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP).
According to the HTTP request-response communications model, HTTP
requests are sent from the client to the server and HTTP responses are
sent from the server to the client in response to an HTTP request. In
operation, the server waits for a client to open a connection and to
request information, such as a Web page. In response, the server sends a
copy of the requested information to the client, closes the connection to
the client, and waits for the next connection. It will be understood that
the server can respond to requests from more than one client. It will be
further understood that the client/server can communicate in a more
secure fashion using, for example, Hypertext Transfer Protocol over
Secure Socket Layer (HTTPS), which is a Uniform Resource Indicator
commonly used over the Internet to indicate a secure communication, such
as those used in payment transactions and corporate information systems.

[0031] Although embodiments are described herein with reference to the use
of requests and responses according to the HTTPS protocol, it will be
understood that any type of secure request/response protocol can be used
to provide sufficient protection to the data so as to reduce the
likelihood of spoofing or other un-authorized registration.

[0032] As used herein, the term "secure request" (and "secure response")
includes requests made by, for example, a client directed to a server
where the data in the request is intended to be secure. For example, in
some embodiments, a secure request can be an HTTPS request made by a
multi mode communications device to a registration server. In other
embodiments, the secure request can be provided by encrypting the data
included in the request using, for example, Secure Socket Layer (SSL), a
Secure Shell (SSH) or the like.

[0033] In other embodiments, a secure request can be provided by a
signature used to encode a clear text (i.e., un-encoded data) message. In
these embodiments, the secure request may be provided by, for example, a
cryptographic hash function, such as what is commonly referred to as a
Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) or a Message-Digest algorithm 5 (MD-5), where
data to be transmitted is subject to the cryptographic hash function for
protection during transmission. It will be understood that the above
descriptions related to a secure request can also apply to a secure
response issued responsive to a secure request.

[0034] As described herein below in greater detail, a multi-mode
communications device can be registered for service by utilizing separate
communication networks, such as a PSTN and the Internet. For example, in
some embodiments, during registration the multi-mode communications
device can receive registration information from a registration server
over a first communications network (such as the Internet) and transmit
registration information to the server over a second communications
network (such as a PSTN, GSN, or CDMA network).

[0035] Still further, utilizing different communications networks in the
registration process can improve the security of the registration process
thereby reducing the likelihood that unauthorized devices can be
registered or that an unauthorized device can "spoof" the registration
system. For example, in some embodiments, a somewhat unique identifier
(such as MAC address of the multi-mode communications device) can be
transmitted to the registration server, which in turn generates a number
which is sufficiently random to provide adequate security for the
registration process. Then, the registration server transmits the
generated number back to the multi-mode communications device along with
a number which the multi-mode communications device dials as a second
part of the registration process.

[0036] The multi-mode communications device places the call to the number
provided by the registration server using the a first network (e.g.,
PSTN), and transmits the number generated by the registration server
during the first part of the registration process. The registration
server can then use the number provided by the multi-mode communications
device during the call to authenticate the second part of the
registration request, which may as stated above, further improve the
authentication desired for the registration process as the registration
process may be split across two networks, and more particularly, utilizes
at least one network which is relatively more secure than the Internet.

[0037] It will be understood that, although some embodiments are described
herein with reference to a multi-mode telephone as the multi-mode
communications device, the multi-mode communications device can be any
two-way communications device that registers with a network for service
and can operate using more than one mode of communications. For example,
in other embodiments, the multi-mode communications device can function
as a video phone, a VOIP telephone (capable of using services such as
Skype or Truphone), a cellular wireless telephone, a text messaging
terminal, or any other type of information appliance capable of using
more than one mode of communication. It will be understood that, as used
herein, the term "call" includes any data used for communications over a
network routed to/from the device, such as a text message, video, and/or
audio regardless of how the data is encoded.

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the deployment of a multi
mode telephone 100 located at a customer location 110, which can utilize
a local area network 115, to provide connectivity to the Internet 175.
The multi mode telephone 100 is also coupled to a public switched
telephone network (PSTN 120). A registration system 130 is coupled to
both the Internet 175 and the PSTN 120 so that the multi mode telephone
100 can communicate with the registration system 130 using either
network. Although not shown in FIG. 1, it will be understood that in some
embodiments, the PSTN 120 can be replaced by any other type of
communications network that can be used to provide voice communications
between subscribers. For example, the PSTN 120 shown in FIG. 1 could be
replaced with a wireless type communication network, such as a GSM type
network or CDMA type network. As described above, in some embodiments,
the multi mode telephone 100 can be a video phone that can communicate
using a TCP/IP based network and/or a PSTN, a telephone capable of using
VOIP (via the Internet) and/or POTS over the PSTN, and other types of
communications devices.

[0039] The registration system 130 can include a plurality of separate
systems used to implement different functions provided during the
registration process. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the registration
system 130 can include a registration server 135 which can provide packet
switched type communications with the multi mode telephone 100 via the
Internet 175. The registration server 135 can also communicate with a
customer information database 140, which can store configuration data
that is provided to the multi mode telephone 100 during the data
registration process, a network dial plan database 145, which can store
dial plan information to be provided to the multi mode telephone 100
during registration, and still further, the registration system 130 can
include a registration Interactive Voice Response (IVR) server 150 that
is also coupled to the PSTN 120. Accordingly, in operation, the multi
mode telephone 100 can place calls to the registration IVR server 150 via
the PSTN 120 and can communicate with the registration server 135 during
the registration process.

[0040]FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates some components of a
multi mode telephone 100 in some embodiments. In particular, the multi
mode telephone 100 can include a processor 105 that is configured to
coordinate overall operations of the multi mode telephone 100 by
controlling the other components shown in FIG. 2. In particular, the
processor 105 can coordinate the operations of a memory 110 that is
configured to store information for the multi mode telephone 100, such as
the information provided to/from the registration system during the
registration process. Further, the processor 105 can maintain operations
of IO circuits 116, such as those that provide a user interface for the
telephone 100.

[0041] The memory 110 may include any memory devices containing the
software and data used to implement the functionality in accordance with
exemplary embodiments. The memory 110 can include, but is not limited to,
the following types of devices: cache, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash
memory, SRAM, DRAM and magnetic disk. The memory 110 may include several
categories of software to provide operation of the multi mode telephone,
application programs, input/output device drivers, etc. The memory 110
can also include data that is used to coordinate the operations of the
circuits shown therein as well as an operating system to govern the
overall function of the device 100.

[0042] As also shown in FIG. 2, the multi mode telephone 100 can also
include first and second network interfaces 121, 125. In particular, the
first network interface 121 can operate under the control of the
processor 105 to provide an interface for a first network, such as the
Internet 175. As further shown in FIG. 2, the second network interface
125 can operate under the control of the processor 105 to provide an
interface for a second network, such as the PSTN 120, or a GSM or CDMA
type communication network. It will be understood that although the above
described elements are the only ones shown in FIG. 2, a multi mode
telephone 100 can include other components used provide operations
related to the modes supported for the multiple modes of communications
provided by the device. For example, a video phone would also include
software and hardware used to video processing. It will be further
understood that the processor 105 shown in FIG. 2, along with the other
components therein, can provide the operations of the telephone 100 as
illustrated, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4 herein.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a first part of a
registration process conducted between the multi mode telephone 100 and
the registration system 130 in some embodiments. In particular, in some
exemplary embodiments, the registration process typically originates with
some action 300 by the customer (or authorized user), such as powering on
the telephone 100. In response, the telephone 100 initiates a Hyper Text
Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) request 305 for registration so that the
telephone 100 can ultimately be used in a communications network
associated with the service provider. In some embodiments, the HTTPS
request provided with the telephone 100 includes a device identifier that
identifies the telephone 100 with a sufficient degree of uniqueness
within the Internet 175. For example, in some embodiments, the identifier
is the Media Access Control (MAC) address for the telephone 100.

[0044] The registration server 135 receives the HTTPS request 305 from the
telephone 100 and, in turn, issues a subsequent HTTP request 310 to the
customer information database server 140, requesting confirmation of
whether any other telephone has previously been registered with the same
identifier provided by the telephone 100. For example, in some
embodiments, the customer information database 140 would be provided with
the MAC address for the telephone 100.

[0045] In response, the customer information database server 140 provides
an HTTP response 315 to the registration server 135 indicating whether
any telephone having the same identifier has been previously registered.
Assuming that no previous telephone has been registered using the same
identifier provided by the telephone 100, the registration server 135
generates a number based on the identifier provided by the telephone 100.
It will be understood that the number generated by the registration
server 135 may serve as a way to improve authentication for communication
between the registration server 135 and the telephone 100. For example,
the registration server 135 can generate a random number based on the MAC
address provided by the telephone 100 or, alternatively, can generate a
pseudo random number based on the MAC address provided by the telephone
100. The registration server 135 then associates the generated number
with the identifier provided by the telephone 100. It will be understood
that the number generated by the registration server 135 is sufficiently
large to provide adequate security for the authentication process.

[0046] The registration server 135 then generates an HTTPS response 325
(corresponding to the HTTPS request 305) to the telephone 100. The HTTPS
response 325 includes the number generated by the registration server
135, as well as a telephone number that can be used to initiate a call on
the public switch telephone network 120 (or any communications system
other than the Internet 175). For example, in some embodiments, the
telephone number provided by the registration server 135 is an 800 number
that corresponds to an IVR system that can be used to implement a second
portion of the registration process conducted via the PSTN.

[0047] After the telephone 100 receives the generated number and telephone
number from the registration server 135, the telephone 100 initiates a
telephone call 340 over the PSTN 120 using the telephone number provided
by the registration server 135. Once the call 341 to the registration IVR
server 150 is established via the PSTN 120, the telephone 100 transmits
the number using signals 335. In some embodiments, the signals are
provided using Dual Tone Multi-Frequency signaling. The registration IVR
server 150, then forwards a response to the registration server 135
indicating whether any other telephone has been registered using the same
number generated by the registration server 135 during the first portion
of the registration process. The call 341 to the registration IVR server
150 is then terminated 342.

[0048] As described above, although embodiments are described as using the
HTTPS protocol, it will be understood that any type of secure
request/response protocol can be used to provide sufficient protection to
the data so as to reduce the likelihood of spoofing or other
un-authorized registration.

[0049] According to FIG. 4, the registration process of the telephone 100
continues with the telephone 100 initiating a registration request 405
via the Internet 175 to the registration server 135. The request 405 from
the telephone 100 includes the number generated by the registration
server 135 during the first portion of registration process. The
registration server 135 then associates 410 the telephone number of the
telephone 100 (determined during the call 340 placed to the registration
IVR server 150) with the number generated by the registration server 135
during the first portion of the registration process. Also, the telephone
number determined during the call to the registration IVR server 150 is
associated 420 with a subsequent request for configuration and dialing
plan information for the telephone 100.

[0050] The registration server 135 then forwards an HTTP request 425 to
the customer information data base server 140 for an authenticated
telephone number for the telephone 100 and associated telephone
configuration information. In response, the customer information database
server 140 issues an HTTP response 430 to the registration server 135
including the telephone service configuration. Further, the registration
server 135 issues an HTTP request 435 to the dial plan database server
145 for a dial plan associated with the telephone 100. In turn, the dial
plan database server 145 issues an HTTP response 440 to the registration
server 135 including the dial plan for the telephone 100.

[0051] The registration server 135 then forwards the authenticated
telephone number and configuration information and the dial plan to the
telephone 100 via an HTTPS response 445 associated with the HTTPS request
405. In turn, the telephone 100 stores 450 the authenticated telephone
number for the telephone 100 as well as the dial plan and configuration
information in the memory 110. Furthermore, in some embodiments,
additional security keys can be provided to the telephone 100 to
facilitate secure operation of the telephone 100 with applications
accessed via the Internet 175.

[0052] As described herein, a multi mode telephone can be registered for
service by utilizing separate communication networks, such as a PSTN and
the Internet. For example, in some embodiments, during registration the
multi mode telephone can receive registration information from a
registration server over a first communications network (such as the
Internet) and transmit registration information to the server over a
second communications network (such as a PSTN, GSN, or CDMA network).

[0053] Further, the utilizing different communications networks in the
registration process can improve the security of the registration process
thereby reducing the likelihood that unauthorized telephones can be
registered or that unauthorized telephone can "spoof" the registration
system. For example, in some embodiments, a somewhat unique identifier
(such as MAC address of multi mode telephone) can be transmitted to the
registration server, which in turn generates a number which is
sufficiently random to provide adequate security for the registration
process. Then, the registration server transmits the generated number
back to the multi mode telephone along with a telephone number which the
multi mode telephone calls as a second part of the registration process.

[0054] Still further, the registration process may allow the multi mode
communications device to be registered with a single number valid for all
of the multi modes of communications supported by the device. For
example, the single number provided to the device during the registration
process (such as the authenticated telephone number) can be used to place
a call to the device regardless of which mode is used to route the call.
In this way, if for example, a call were to be placed to a device
configured to communicate via VOIP and/or a wireless communications
network, the single authenticated telephone number can be used for either
mode.

[0055] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having
ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of present disclosure,
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore,
it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set
forth only for the purposes of example, and that it should not be taken
as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. The
following claims are, therefore, to be read to include not only the
combination of elements which are literally set forth but all equivalent
elements for performing substantially the same function in substantially
the same way to obtain substantially the same result. The claims are thus
to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and
described above and what is conceptually equivalent.

Patent applications by Edward Walter, Boerne, TX US

Patent applications by Larry Pearson, San Antonio, TX US

Patent applications by AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.

Patent applications in class Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by respective fixed stations

Patent applications in all subclasses Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by respective fixed stations